Witkoff makes a mistake: Media explains why confusion arose over 'Putin’s conditions for peace'

The outlet reminded that on August 7, during a phone call with European leaders, Witkoff claimed that Putin was allegedly ready to withdraw troops from Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions. In exchange, he demanded that Kyiv concede the Donbas.

However, the very next day, Witkoff began saying something completely different — that Putin had not offered to withdraw troops from Ukrainian territories. Both of Witkoff’s statements shocked European leaders and some US officials.

The media outlet notes that Witkoff is a New York real estate developer and a personal friend of Trump, but he has no diplomatic or political experience. This may explain the blatant violation of diplomatic protocol that Witkoff committed on August 6 during his meeting with Putin.

When heading to the Kremlin, Witkoff did not bring a State Department stenographer, leaving both himself and Washington without a record of Putin’s exact proposals. This caused all the subsequent confusion — it seems Witkoff simply could not accurately recall what was discussed with Putin.

European officials had to spend considerable time trying to clarify with their American counterparts exactly what Putin had said to Witkoff. On their part, most US officials themselves had a limited understanding of what had happened and what had been discussed in the Kremlin.

"Witkoff, a close of friend of Trump's, has won praise for his work ethic. But some US and European officials worry that the Russians are taking advantage of his lack of experience at the negotiating table," the outlet added.

Witkoff and the confusion

On August 6, according to media reports, Witkoff, during a meeting with Putin, announced a "very lucrative offer," including promises of a gradual lifting of sanctions and a return to importing Russian energy resources.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reacted to this "Witkoff plan" on August 7. Presidential advisor Dmytro Lytvyn assured that rumors about a plan to freeze the war, which Witkoff allegedly proposed to Putin, are fake.

Whether this plan actually existed is unknown, but Witkoff added to the confusion on August 7, initially claiming that Russia was ready to make a number of significant concessions, including withdrawing troops from Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions.

However, the media later reported, citing their own sources, that Putin had not abandoned his intentions to maintain full control over Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson regions. Witkoff had misunderstood Putin’s statements and interpreted them as concessions.